Help is needed to identify faculty participants for a statewide study

Minitex and the multicounty multitype library systems, alongside a team of academic and school librarians, are contracting with Wilder Research for a two-part research study on information and technology literacy readiness among first-year post-secondary students in Minnesota. The purpose of this study is to gather information that will inform both the need for the requirement of K-12 information and technology literacy standards in Minnesota and the need for licensed school library media specialists to teach those standards.

The first part involves conducting interviews with faculty to understand their perceptions of the value and importance of information and technology literacy for their students’ success, and their impressions of their students’ readiness in these domains. We plan to conduct approximately 25 interviews with faculty across Minnesota, representing a range of disciplines and institution types. Faculty who engage directly with first-year students in developing research and critical thinking skills are especially relevant. Interviews will be scheduled for December 2025–January 2026, and will last about 30–45 minutes.

We need assistance in identifying a few faculty members who may be a good fit for this study. If possible, please send names and email addresses of recommended faculty as soon as possible to Ann Kaste at Minitex (kaste@umn.edu). We will follow up with an invitation to them to participate. Thank you in advance for helping us connect with faculty who can share their insights on student preparedness and information literacy. Your perspective as a librarian or library program coordinator is invaluable to this effort, and we appreciate your partnership in advancing this important work.